Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-01-27


her knees
Rachel stirred little, and Aunt Debby
Looked up and closed the book.
I'm afeared I've reused We up too soon, ("
she said, coming toward the bed with a look
OF real concern upon her sad, sweet face. Il
raylly didn't intend ter. | Jest opened the
book ter read the promise bout our Father
heedin' even sparrers fall, am forgot. an
read on; an when read, must read out
loud, ter git the good of hit. Some folks
pretend they kin understand jest ez well
when they read ter themselves, Mebbe they
kin
~Oh, no" replied Rachel cheerfully. syou
didn't disturb me in the least II was time
that / got up, and | was glad to hear you
read. I'm only troubled with the fear that
I've oversight myself, and missed tho duty
that was intended for
make Yourself easy ON tibet ere score.
Yen not be needed to-day, nor likely to-nacs..
row. Some things heV come ut ter change
Jim's plans.
Il am very sorry said Rachel, setting UP
in the bed and tossing back her long, silken
name with a single quick, masterful motion.
Il wished to 80 Immediately about what
am expected to 10. can do anything bet
ter than watt
Aunt Debby came impulsively to the bed
side, threw an arm around Rachels neck,
ard kissed her on the forehead 81 love We.
honey she said with admiring tenderness.
''Ye re sich ez ali women orter be. Yen
make heroes of yer husband and sons. We've
yjt to Earn, though, tibet the most uf o.
womans life, an the hardest part of hit, is
ter wait
In her fervid state of mind Rachel re-
sponded electrically to this loving advance.
made at the moment of all others when she
felt most IN need of sympathy and love She
put her strong arm around Aunt Debbv. and
held her for momen. close TO her heart.
From that moment the two women became
of one accord. Womanlike, they sought re-
lief from their high tension in light, irrele-
want talk and care for the trifling details Of
their surroundings Aunt Debby brought
watet and towels for Rachel's tcilet. and
fiuttered around her solicitous, helpful and
motherly, and Rachel, weary of long COM
panionship with men, delighted in the rest
fitness of association once more with q gen
tie, sweet-minded woman.
The heavy riding habit was entirely toe
cumbersome for indoor wear, and Rachel
put on instead one of Aunt Debbys alinseyn
gowns, that hung from peg, and laughed at
the prim, demure mountain girl she saw in
the glass After good breakfast had still
farther raised her spirits she ventured upon
a little pleasantly about the dramatic posi-
bilities Of young lady who could assume
different characters with such facility.
The day passed quietly, with Rachel study
ing such of the Christmas festivities as were
visible from the window, and from time to
time exchanging personal history with Aunt
Debby. She learned that the latter had left
her home in the Rockcastle mountains with
the Union army in the previous spring, and
gone onto Chattanooga, to assist her nephew,
FoTtner, in obtaining the required informa.
ton when Mitchell's army advanced against
that place in the summer When the army
retreated TO the Ohio, in September, she had
come as far back as Murfreesboro, and there
stopped to await the army's return, which
she was confident would not be long DELAYED.
"How brave and devoted you have been
said Rachel warmly, as Aunt Debby con
Guided her modestly told story. "No man
could have done better
mo, honcy,n replied the elder woman, with
her wan face coloring family, ave done moth
in hut my plain duty, ez | seed hit. rvedone
nothin' ter what they would've done hadn't
chance. Like one who speaks ter us in the book,
I've been in journeyin's often, in perils Of rob-
bers, in perls of mine own countrymen, in
perils in the city, perls in the wilderness, in
WEAKNESS an painfulness, in watchings
often, in hunger an thirst, in HASTINGS often,
in cold en- nakednass, but ne warns us not
ter glory III these things, but in those whicn
consarn our infirmities."
How great should be your Ieward"
Don't speak of reward. | only want my
freedom when I've armed hit--the freedom
ten leave an 'arth on which I've been left be-
bind, an go whar my husband an son are
waitin FIR me.
She rose and paced the floor, with her face
and eyes shining.
Have yen no fear Of death whateyerT
asked Rachel in nmazement.
aFeaf 5f death! Child, -yhy should foar
deathl Why should fear death, more than
tie unborn child fears birtha Both are the
same Hit can't be fur ter thet other world
whar they wait fur me. Hit is not even ez
journey ter the next town-hit's only one
little step through the curtain o green grass
an violets on a sunny hillside--only one little
step"
She turned abruptly, and going back to
her chair by tho freside, seated herself in it,
and claspiDg her knees with her hands, rocked
back aud forth, and sang in low, sweet
Groom:
Oh. the rapturous. transporting scene,
That rises ter my sight;
Sweet fields arrayed in Twin green,
n rivers of delight.
Al DER those wide, ext ended plains
Shines one eternal day;
Thar God, the Son, forever reigns
An scatters night away
No chillin' winds or poisonous breath
Kin reach thet healthful shore; ,
Sickness an SORROW, pain an death,
Are felt an feared no more
After dark Fortner came in. Both women
studied his face eagerly as he walked up to
the fire.
"Nothin' yet, honey, y lie said to Aunt Deb
by. and ~Nothin' yet, Mss to Rachel, and
after little stay went out.
When Rachel ayvolse the next morning the
sky was lowering darby On going to the
window she found most depressing change
from the scene Of bright merrment she had
studied the night before chill winter rain
was falling with dreary persistence, pattering
on the dead leaves that covered tho ground
and soaking into tho sodden GARTH Every
thing AMI everybody in sight added something
to increase tho dismalness of the view, and as
Rachel continued to gazc upon it tho "hor-
rors' took possession of her She began to
brood wretchedly over her position as a spy
inside the encmy's lines, and upon all the con-
sequences of that position
1t was late that night when Fortner came
in. As he entered tho two expectant women
saw, by the rudy light of the fire, that his
face was set and his eyes flashing. He hung
his dripping hat on a peg in the chimney and
kicked the blazing logs with his wet boots un-
til flood of meteor sparks flew up the throat
of the fireplace. Turning, he said, without
waiting to be questioned:
"Well, the hunts begun at last. Our folks
come outn Nashville this morning in three
big armies, marchin' on different roads, en-
they begun slashin' at the Confederntes
wherever they could find 'em. Thar's been
fouten at Triune an I.avergne, an all along
the line. They histcd the Confederates out'n
ther holes everywhar an druv 'em back on
the jump. Wagon load arter wagon load o.
wounded's comm back. come in ahead Of
long train agwine ter the hospital. Harkl
ye kin heah .'em now.n
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